n an effort to improve communication and support for the various
members of the international Nacel Open Door, Inc. (NOD)
community, you will now be receiving a quarterly newsletter from
the National Office in the U.S.
These newsletters will serve as a tool to share our collective passion for
international understanding and language education. They will contain
stories of student success, industry updates, alerts of important
changes, and an exchange of cultural information. We will share
updates from our many programs and introduce you to individual
members of the vast NOD community (this month, we introduce
you to the Private School Program Student Bloggers). Our advisors
will also offer advice on common student and Host Family issues.
This new initiative is part of something much bigger: an entire
rebranding effort, discussed in depth on the next page. NOD is
excited to share with you a few changes weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made in an attempt
to better serve you - our Partners - as well as your students, their
parents, our Host Families, and our own staff throughout the United
States. We hope you can share in our excitement!
We hope to provide you with the highest-quality information and
service, and we welcome your ideas and requests. We look forward
to sharing the many voices of NOD with you.

-1-

April 2013: Issue I

In This Issue:

Nacel Open Door Partner Voices

A NEW LOOK FOR NACEL OPEN DOOR

O

ver the past several months,

Nacel Open Door, Inc. (NOD)
has been taking a closer look at who we
are and how we serve our Host Families,
students, Local Representatives, Foreign
Partners, schools, and all others who
support us. What we learned was our
image didn’t truly convey who we are as
an organization and our strength in the
industry. To better present ourselves and
help convey the connection between
our various programs, we’ve taken on a
multiphase rebranding effort.

Phase 1 – Logos

The first step in our rebranding was to
update our logos to better unify our
variety of programs and establish a
consistent color palate. Both the logos
and the colors were developed based

on existing logos, styles, and colors
utilized across the Nacel International
School System. The new NOD and program
logos resemble a seal. Inside the seal
is a globe representing our worldwide

Phase 2 – Updated Materials

We are currently redesigning our
materials to reflect the changes made
in Phase 1. This means you will begin
seeing newly formatted documents.
Rest assured that other than making all
of our documents look the same, the
actual information on the forms has
not changed.

Phase 3 – New Website

The final phase will be the complete
overhaul of our website! This will be
a fresh and unified site that offers so
much more than our current site.
partnerships. Atop of the globe is a
book with rays of knowledge streaming
out of it to signify the understanding
everyone involved in the exchange
gains through their experience with NOD.

As we move forward with the next
phases of rebranding, you can expect
better support material from the
National Office as well as to your students
from their Local Representatives.

Advisors’ Angle: Introduction

Welcome to the Advisors’ Angle! In this first issue of the
newsletter, we’d like to introduce the Advising Department. In
the next issues of the Advisors’ Angle, we will discuss some
of the challenges that international students face and some
tips for helping students and Host Families prepare to meet
those challenges.

Our team of advisors brings years of experience to
Nacel Open Door, Inc. (NOD). Sandra Morgan is the
Director of Student Advising (Academic Year Program, or
AYP). Sara Lien is the Student & Host Family Counselor for
The Private School Program (PSP) and St. Paul Prep (SPP).
Christa Shannon is the International Education Administrator
for PSP, AYP, and Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange. Alena
Stewart is the International Student Advisor for AYP and PSP.
Each member of the Advising Department works with
students and Host Families to assist and support them as
they adjust to the various changes and challenges of life

as an international student. We work closely with students
and families to help them understand and resolve situations
and conflicts.
These include situations where students struggle with
academic performance or cultural adjustment, as well as
dealing with a wide array of emotions that are all normal
and understandable when traveling so far from home. We
encourage students and Host Families to let us know when
they need support, help, or advice.
We do our best to assist everyone in becoming a healthy,
happy part of the NOD program. We rely on our Partners for
your valuable insight and support, as well as your thoughtful
communication with students and their natural parents. We
welcome hearing your thoughts or concerns as they arise.
Please feel free to contact the Advising Department at:
advising@nacelopendoor.org.

-2-

Nacel Open Door Partner Voices

SLEP REPLACED!

The SLEP test will no longer be accepted beginning with the
2014-2015 school year.
The SLEP will be permanantly replaced by the ELTIS (English Language
Test for International Students), according to the Council on Standards
for International Educational Travel (CSIET).
Nacel Open Door will continue to accept the SLEP test or the IPT
only until the fall of 2014.

Remembe
r All
AY P S t u d
ent
Applicati
ons
Deadline
is

April 15th!

Announcement from CSIET about ELTIS: Click here
More information about official test materials
and pre-purchasing materials at a discounted price: Click here

FOLLOW US! NOD IS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
In order to better communicate
with our worldwide community of
employees, Foreign Partners, staff,
Host Families, and students – across
multiple media and in a more timely
fashion – Nacel Open Door, Inc. (NOD)
is expanding our social media presence.
You will now have multiple resources
for information about our company,
our programs, and our students.
Blogs
A blog is like an online journal.
It is similar to a website, but
it is more interactive and is
usually updated more often. Readers
can leave comments on the content
of a blog and start a conversation with
anyone else who wants to contribute.
The Academic Year Program (AYP),
the Private School Program (PSP), and
St. Paul Preparatory School (SPP)
offer blogs to share updates and
resources and to make announcements

quickly and easily. The blogs can also
build community within programs.
Host Families and students can learn
from each others’ experiences, and
NOD Student Advisors offer advice and
support throughout the year.
Facebook
Nacel Open Door, AYP, and
SPP are on Facebook.

Facebook offers an opportunity to
share quick announcements, advice,
and links to relevant information. Host
Families, students, and Local Reps
have the opportunity to interact by
asking questions, giving suggestions,
and sharing their own experiences.
Twitter
AYP, PSP, and SPP have
Twitter account to share
news and udates, Retweet
relevant information, and share
cultural resources. The Twitter feeds
for AYP and PSP can also be found
on the home page of each respective
program’s blog.
-3-

Follow us!
Each social media platform makes
it easy to stay updated. The home
pages of the blogs feature a
“subscribe” option to have new
posts sent directly to your email.
Facebook has a “Like” button,
and Twitter has a “Follow” option,
both to send contact directly to
your newsfeed.
Blogs:
AYP: www.nacelayp.wordpress.com
PSP: www.nacelpsp.wordpress.com
SPP: www.blog.stpaulprep.org
Facebook:
NOD: www.facebook.com/
NacelOpenDoorInc
AYP: www.facebook.com/
NacelOpenDoorAYP
SPP: www.facebook.com/stpaulprep

Information-sharing across the globe
has never been as easy as it is today,
and we plan to keep up.

Nacel Open Door Partner Voices

C

Oming

Soon! With the launch of the

Coming

new Nacel Open Door, Inc. (NOD)
website fast approaching, we want to give
you a quick glace of what’s in store!
• First and most exciting will be that all
NOD programs will be accessible from the
main page. This may seem like it should
be a given, but as many of you know, our
current site does not provide this ease
of access to all NOD programs. Now this
new feature will eliminate any guesswork
on how to find the information you are
looking for. It will simply be right there on
the home page! You will be able to read a
little bit about what each program offers or
click on a link to go to another page, where
in-depth information will be available.
• CultureNotes are a short description
about a specific country and its culture,
in addition to offering basic demographic
information. This information is utilized
by Host Families in deciding which student
might fit the most naturally into their
family. CultureNotes also aim to highlight
some of the cultural differences Host Families
might encounter in order to help them
better prepare for the cultural-exchange
experience. CultureNotes are not a new
tool. NOD has been using them since 2010,
but they have not been accessible from the
website before now. In 2012, NOD added
these CultureNotes to the Academic Year
Program blog. After seeing how popular
they have been on the blog, we are excited
to make CultureNotes available through
the website.
You can look forward to a sharp, fresh
website that reflects a key goal of our
rebranding efforts: to better present
ourselves - with current, relevant information
- and help convey the connection between
our various programs.
-4-

Nacel Open Door Partner Voices

Soon To A Website Near You
Dear Partners,
I am very happy to announce that we are in the process of

redesigning the Nacel Open Door, Inc. (NOD) website. This will be a
fresh and unified site, offering links to all of our programs and

opportunities directly from the home page. The look of the site will
follow that of the recent rebranding campaign, with our new logos
and colors prominently displayed throughout the site. The new site

will highlight the strength and variety of NODâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program offerings, as

well as give viewers quick and easy access to the information they
seek most often. There will also be re-directs from our current
websites that will seamlessly take our audience directly to pages
they may already be familiar with.

The new website will roll out in stages. First, we will be launching in
mid-May with information on the background and philosophy of

Nacel Open Door, information on hosting, and NOD program pages.
Program pages will include the Academic Year Program, Private
School Program, Short Term Programs, and Nacel International
School System. The second phase will be to update the St. Paul

Preparatory School (SPP) website, which will be linked to the main

NOD site. Once the initial phase is launched, work will begin on SPPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
site. Both websites should be completely updated by the time our
fall students arrive.

We hope that this new and updated website will be a solid tool that
will support your recruiting efforts as well as make information
gathering easier for students, families, schools, and communities.

We also hope that it will be a site that you will be proud to be as-

sociated with. If you have feedback on what you would like to see,
please feel free to forward that to me at any time. Although the
initial launch will happen this spring, it will be a work in progress
that will have frequent additions and updates.
Best Regards,

Nacel Open Door

Director of Operations

-5-

April 2013: Issue I

Rae Lenway,

Nacel Open Door Partner Voices

Keeping Up With NOD Programs

N

acel Open Door, Inc. (NOD)
offers multiple programs
in the United States and
abroad to meet a variety of
cultural and academic goals for
all students.
These programs range in
duration from one week to
multiple years. The focus
of some programs is a
complete cultural immersion
and exchange, while others
are focused more on college
preparation.

PRIVATE SCHOOL PROGRAM (PSP)

Students on PSP are working hard to finish the year on a strong note. They are
studying for finals, completing service hours, and making sure everything is
checked off their end-of-year “to do” lists and that graduation requirements
are being met.
Juniors continue to study for and take the SAT, and our 164 seniors are receiving
college acceptances – many to their first-choice schools.
Many students are planning trips over spring break to visit colleges or to relax
with their Host Families. Some Local Representatives are working to organize
year-end picnics and graduation parties for their students. Students planning
on attending prom are beginning to look at dresses and tuxedos. Soon, they
will be arranging to have items sent home and to sell back textbooks.
As a program, PSP is currently accepting applications for the 2013-2014
academic year. PSP schools offer a wide range of tuition to fit every budget,
and students choose from more than 100 schools across the United States.

As AYP, PSP, and SPP wind down for the school year and begin looking toward
the fall semester, the Short Term Programs are preparing for the start of their
exchange season.
Students from China, Taiwan, France, Spain, and Germany will arrive in the United
States for anywhere from one to four weeks during the summer. While in the U.S.,
students will participate in ESL programs, tutorial programs with groups of four
students, or immersion homestay programs. Each program will allow students to
practice their English language and immerse themselves in the culture of the U.S.
Short Term Program Coordinators are looking forward to a great summer!

NACEL INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOL SYSTEM (NISS)
NISS is currently moving forward with
the second phase of the Antalya, Turkey
school opening with the addition of a high
school program. The school system also
plans to open four additional schools in
Turkey with Final.

ST. PAUL PREPARATORY SCHOOL (SPP)
SPP, a member of NISS, has had an
eventful 2012-2013 academic year.
The math team placed 3rd in the St.
Paul City division, and the robotics
team completed another successful
season building a working robot. The
Art Department has seen numerous
successes as well. Three SPP students
placed in the 2012-2013 Minnesota
Scholastic Art Awards. Three students
received awards for the Dream@50 Art
Competition honoring Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr.; their artwork will be featured
on billboards and transportation in the

coming months. Finally, three students
were selected as part of the “Best 100”
of more than 800 entries in the Les
Farrington Best 100 Juried Art Exhibit.
Ignacy of Poland went on to win a Merit
Prize among the 100 finalists.
SPP participated again this year in the
Guthrie Theatre’s “Schools on Stage”
program, in which students worked
with local artists and performed their
own original piece of theatre on March 27
at the professional venue. The school is
also piloting an internship program this
semester in which students intern in local
businesses for real-world experience.
As for future plans, SPP is excited to offer
a new Global Studies course in the fall.
This course will focus on a specific part
of the world and culminate in a trip
over spring break to the area studied.
The 2013-2014 focus will be Ireland
and Scotland.
-7-

ACADEMIC YEAR
PROGRAM (AYP)

In addition to reviewing student
applications and vetting Host
Families for the fall semester,
AYP is making many updates and
improvements this spring.
Documents and handbooks are
getting makeovers to match the
new brand image and to create
more consistency across programs,
and improvements are being made
to the National Office database for
easier document tracking.
In addition, program administrators are preparing Pre-Departure
Orientation materials to be sent out
this month. Updates to the student
application are also being made.
These will go into effect beginning
with January applicants.
Most notable is the new Match
Abroad packet for students.
This packet will include more
information about the Host
Family and host community to
help students better prepare for
their time in the United States.

• The state of Alaska is 429 times larger
than the state of Rhode Island, but
Rhode Island is much more populous.

One of the purposes of the program blogs is to allow
students the opportunity to share their experiences
in the United States. They are encouraged to submit
stories and photos as often as they would like.
One unique opportunity currently available to
Private School Program (PSP) students – and soon
to be offered to Academic Year Program students –
is the Student Blogger internship.

• Atlanta International Airport is the
world’s busiest airport.
• Although it is considered an icon of
New York City, the Statue of Liberty
is actually located in the state of
New Jersey.

2.)

• Half of all U.S. citizens live within
50 miles of their birthplace.
• More than 20% of the people living in
California were born in other countries.
• 18 acres of pizza are eaten in the
United States every day.

3.)

Student Bloggers apply at the beginning of the
semester by submitting a sample blog post. Those
selected are expected to contribute to the blog at
least one time each month for a semester, sharing
their international encounters first-hand.
The PSP Student Bloggers for the spring semester
are 1. Yunwoo of South Korea 2. Myung Jin “Lucy”
of South Korea, and 3. Yiwei “Amanda” of China.
This is Yunwoo’s third semester as a Blogger. Read
their posts at www.nacelpsp.wordpress.com.

• U.S. citizens spend about $500 million
each year on ketchup.

• The shortest river in the world is only
200 feet long and is found in the U.S.
state of Montana.
• More ice cream is consumed in the
United States than anywhere else in
the world.
• Delaware was the first State in the
United States.